Education
JAMB Sets New Conditions For Under 16 Candidates
By Gideon Ayeni
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set new conditions for candidates below the age of 16 to gain admission into tertiary institutions.
JAMB has stated that candidates below the age of 16 can gain admission into universities on the condition they score at least 320 out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB’s new condition follows the decision by the Federal Ministry of Education to reinstate 16 years as the minimum age for university admission, reversing an earlier policy that set the threshold at 18.
GWG.ng reports that news reports in Nigeria had in the past shown an outpouring of opposition to the condition by JAMB that only those 18 and above could gain admission into universities.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, clarified that while 16 remains the general admission requirement, exceptional candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic abilities will be considered under strict conditions.
These students must excel in multiple assessments, including the UTME, West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Post-UTME, and General Certificate Examination (GCE O/Level).
JAMB also raised concerns over the trend of private universities admitting underage students who later struggle academically. To properly evaluate younger candidates, the examination board has introduced a mock UTME, scheduled for February 23, 2025.
Meanwhile, the main UTME is set to take place on March 8, following the sale of application forms from January 31 to March 5.
In another development, news reports from Nigeria indicate that Nigerians have taken to social media to express shock and frustration over MTN’s sudden increase in the cost of its 15GB weekly data plan, which jumped from N2,000 to N6,000.
The MTN data price surge has caused reactions, with many netizens calling out the telecom giant for what they describe as an unfair and exorbitant hike by 200%.
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